Author: Deep Patel

Crank up the volume and get to work. May 20, 2019 6 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Music can provide us with an intense physical reaction — it can send chills up our spines and raise goosebumps on our arms. Certain songs create stronger emotional connections, and we may find ourselves wrapped up in the instrumentation, vocals and lyrics. The right song can send shots of adrenaline racing through our veins Research by Dennis Hsu of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University found that certain musical components, like a heavy bass or an intense guitar solo, naturally express a sense of power. This musical sense of power can be “contagious” and cause a similar sense of power in the listener. Not only can the power behind certain songs make you feel good; music can also help you be more productive, engaged and motivated. […]

Like everything else that brings progress, the greatest struggle is always within ourselves. That’s why you need to learn self-discipline. May 14, 2019 7 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. It may be hard to believe when you’re facing a hot-fudge sundae or the prospect of sleeping in versus hitting the gym, but studies show that people with self-discipline are happier. People with a higher degree of self-control spend less time debating whether to indulge in behaviors that are detrimental to their health, and are able to make positive decisions more easily. They don’t let impulses or feelings dictate their choices. Instead, they make level-headed decisions. As a result, they tend to feel more satisfied with their lives. There are things you can do to learn self-discipline and gain the willpower to live a happier life. If you are looking to take control of your habits and choices, […]

There is no try, but there is always the pivot. May 13, 2019 6 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. There’s no denying the cultural impact of the Star Wars series. The films have been inspiring millions of people for over 40 years now. There’s something endlessly endearing about them that transcends any social, generational or cultural barriers. A large part of their appeal is due to their universality. Despite being set in a galaxy far, far away, the themes they touch on are relatable regardless of where you’re from. They deal with issues such as family ties, friendship, legacy, identity, success, failure, redemption and holding on to hope even in the darkest hour. It’s for this reason that the lessons taught in Star Wars can apply to anyone, including those starting their own business. Here are 10 quotes from the Star Wars series that all […]

Doing one thing at a time is how everything gets done. May 6, 2019 7 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. We all have habits that help us work more productively. These rituals can act as a road map, helping you stay focused and keeping you on track throughout your day. The more time and effort you save, the more productive you will be. Your workday rituals consist of your habits, routine and schedule. They either help you to work smarter or hinder your productivity. By adopting these eight daily rituals, you will enable yourself to stay hyper-focused and productive all day long. 1. Determine your optimal wake-up time and bedtime. There is no magical one-size-fits-all schedule that will suit everyone. Some of us are early risers who relish the morning hours. Others of us are night owls who find our creativity sparks when the rest […]

No matter how much money you earn, you’ll always be poor if you spend more than you make. April 29, 2019 8 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. In a world of average people — and average salaries — many of us aspire to join the 7-figure club. Who doesn’t dream of becoming wealthy, so they can stop working, go on guilt-free shopping sprees and take endless vacations? However, most rich people don’t do those things, and that’s part of how they build and maintain their wealth. There’s a difference between living a life of careless spending (which will quickly drain even a wealthy person’s bank account) and living for long-term financial independence and wealth. The self-made rich aren’t necessarily smarter than anyone else, but they have mastered some important principles that help them get ahead and stay ahead. Most important, they treat building wealth as […]

It boils down to family, friends, fun, purposeful work and money — in that order. April 22, 2019 8 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. By nearly any measure, Richard Branson is at the top of the success-o-meter of life. The multibillionaire launched his first business as a teenager. By 20, he had started a mail-order record business and by 22 he was running a chain of record stores. He has since founded a slew of companies and conglomerates, including Virgin Records, Virgin Airlines, Virgin Express, Virgin Mobile, Virgil Hotels, Virgin Cruises and Virgin Galactic. But it’s not just his ability to create entrepreneurial success that sets him apart. Branson seems perpetually set to “happy” mode. When he’s not engaging in some outdoor sport or extreme hobby, he’s spending time with family and friends he truly seems to adore. According to Branson, creating such a life is […]

It won’t matter how good your numbers are if you let your health go bad. April 17, 2019 8 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. When you’re working to build a business, it’s easy to put your own needs aside so you can devote as much time and energy as possible to making your venture succeed. But neglecting your own well-being is just as bad as taking your eye off the numbers or forgetting to follow through with projects. Even in the midst of running a hectic business, you have to take care of yourself. Though it might seem strange, self-care should be an important business goal. If you allow unhealthy habits to seep into your life, you’re probably also letting your productivity slip. Along with the demands of your business, you need to make sure your health stays a priority. Follow these 10 important tips […]

A constructive habit pays dividends for a lifetime. April 3, 2019 8 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. The only way to improve your life is to consistently make choices that will make your life better. It’s tempting to think you need to make sweeping changes in an effort to shake things up and improve everything all at once. But the reality is, it’s the little things that add up and have a huge impact on us. If you really want to start improving your life, start with small but meaningful steps that you can build on over time. Take on new and exciting activities, but begin slowly so you don’t get overwhelmed. In no time, you’ll begin to see your life improved by taking steps that help you build knowledge, improve confidence and engage in activities that make you feel healthier and more connected to […]

You don’t need to become a stoic to succeed at business, just an effective routine you stick to and adjust as needed. April 1, 2019 8 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Self-discipline is doing what you need to do, regardless of whether you want to do it. Having self-discipline is often seen as the key ingredient to creating a goal-driven life. We’re told that only through strict discipline can we maintain our effort and make the strides necessary to be successful. Without self-discipline, we’re sure to end up acting imprudently and impulsively. Living a disciplined life is the key to keeping ourselves in check. But what if discipline isn’t as important as we’ve been led to believe? What if self-discipline is really a shortsighted concept that, while helpful in some situations, can actually keep us from reaching our full potential? Certainly, nothing can replace hard […]

She had advantages, but she made the most of them. March 27, 2019 8 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. She’s one of the most watched people on Snapchat and one of the most followed people on Instagram, with nearly 130 million followers. At 21, Kylie Jenner is the youngest ever self-made billionaire in the U.S. Although some may balk at the term “self-made” (as being from a celebrity family has certainly given Kylie advantages most other entrepreneurs can only dream of), the fact remains that she has used her influence and resources to create the kind of cosmetics empire that even the most successful beauty brands have had to work years to achieve. Kylie began to hone her fashionista-turned-entrepreneur skills as a teenager, when she and her supermodel sister, Kendall, debuted their first clothing line for PacSun. The sisters also partnered with Steve Madden on […]

The best way to achieve big goals is to reward yourself for progress each step of the way. March 25, 2019 7 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Gamification is turning a task into a game in order to motivate yourself to do it. The beauty of gamification is that the difficulty of a task (or how dreary it may seem) can be offset if you feel rewarded for completing it. Gamification works because it creates a feeling of being rewarded each time we complete a task — however small it may be. It makes our progress feel tangible, and this spurs us to keep pushing. Whether you realize it or not, you’re probably already using some form of gamification in your life. Let’s take a closer look at how gamification works and how you can use it to boost productivity, set and accomplish big goals […]

Great achievements begin with a goal and a plan. March 20, 2019 8 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Elite athletes push themselves to perform at an extraordinarily high level. Whether they’re winning gold medals or taking their team to the championships, elite athletes find ways to push their bodies and minds beyond what the rest of us are capable of. While most of us will never be able to replicate elite athletes’ success on the field, court or balance beam, we can all learn from the traits that motivate them. We may not be capable of taking on the grueling training and unyielding competition that an elite athlete faces, but we all aspire to achieve our own successes and reach our own goals. We all seek to perform at the highest level possible and set ourselves apart in our respective fields. By studying the habits […]

Giving up is the most common form of failure. March 18, 2019 8 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Resilience is an amazing skill that helps us recover quickly from difficulties. If you are resilient, you have an innate ability to keep getting up when life knocks you down. You have learned how to bounce back and keep going. We build our resilience by learning to cope with challenges — it’s a process of adapting well in the face of trauma, tragedy or significant stress. Basically, you have to get knocked down in order to learn how to pick yourself back up. Over time, successful people learn not only how to overcome, but to embrace these challenges. They understand that each crisis they face is a chance to learn and grow. Resilience is an important skill to master in order to be successful for the long […]

You can’t control everything that happens during the day but you can control how it begins. March 4, 2019 8 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Everyone approaches their morning differently. Some people wake up excited to start their day. Others like to ease into their day more gradually. No matter how you like to start your morning, there are things you can do to ensure every day gets off to a great start. A good morning routine will help you feel relaxed, alert and energized. Starting your morning on the right foot means creating a feeling of happiness that you can carry with you all day long. Your morning routine should include not only getting ready, but also making space for feeling joy and feeling mentally and physically prepared to take on whatever the world has in store for you. Start your day off the […]

Everybody is deluged with information, which only makes understanding all the more important. February 25, 2019 8 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Imagine being able to assemble a team of the most talented and brilliant minds around to give you their choicest nuggets of wisdom in 18 minutes or less. How amazing would that be? Thanks to the internet and TED talks, you have that capability at your fingertips. TED talks give audiences from around the world free, instant access to speakers who are doing cutting-edge work in numerous areas. TED, which is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, offers short, powerful talks covering topics ranging from science to business to global issues. You could spend days on TED, poring over countless insightful videos, but to save you time, here’s a list of the top 10 TED talks that can shape how entrepreneurs view the […]

Brands effectively using interactive-content marketing enjoy a steadily growing customer base. February 20, 2019 8 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Interactive content is highly effective because it connects users with a brand on multiple levels. Interactive marketing provides a creative and unique experience that is personalized to each user — this means it keeps their attention longer, it increases excitement and they’ll be more likely to seek it out. One defining element of interactive marketing is that it gives users some control or influence over their experience, making this content more personal and memorable. Today, many brands are offering interactive-content marketing campaigns that seek to enhance customers’ experiences, boost their engagement, gain more followers and ultimately grow a brand’s customer base. So how exactly do these tools work and how can brands take advantage of these strategies? Here are five interactive trends your brand should […]

Once begun, half done. February 18, 2019 8 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Humans have a tendency to procrastinate because our minds naturally like to be in a relaxed state. Sometimes it’s hard to get going, or we have trouble focusing and find ourselves putting off an unpleasant or difficult task for as long as possible. But procrastination causes anxiety and additional stress — especially if we’re in a rush when we finally get around to doing the task. Your proclivity to procrastinate will do you no favors if you’re scrambling to meet deadlines or handing in subpar work. Successful people are just like the rest of us — there are times when they drag their feet and avoid work. But they have learned ways to push past their lack of momentum to get the ball rolling. So take a lesson from how these top […]

Spend time every day learning something new. February 13, 2019 8 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. To be successful in business, you need a nimble mind to react to problems faster and you need to be adept at understanding whatever is thrown your way. In short, your ability to succeed is often determined by how smart you are. With practice, anyone can increase their knowledge base, sharpen their intellect and learn new skills. There are a number of ways to boost your cognitive skills and expand your mental capacity. We should aim to spend time every day learning something new. The more we learn and the more deeply we understand, the better we can improve our brain performance and increase our capacity to learn. The list below includes the best ways to engage your mind and grow your intelligence so you can meet the ever-mounting […]

Self-care is the key to good health and well-being. February 4, 2019 8 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Entrepreneurs are often terrible at taking care of themselves. They pride themselves on working long hours and barely leaving their desks. If you have ever found yourself still hunched over the computer in the wee hours of the morning, and suddenly realized the only thing you ate that day was from a vending machine, then you know exactly what I mean. It happens to many of us when we’re so focused on getting the job done that self-care slides right out the window. But entrepreneurs and business leaders who have built long-term, successful careers have learned this lesson (often the hard way). They know first-hand that even during the busiest of times, you have to carve out space to take care of yourself. It’s time to start […]

The people who started with little and made a lot have written books to help you do the same. January 30, 2019 7 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Imagine sitting down and having a conversation with an ultra-successful self-made billionaire like Warren Buffett, Mark Cuban or Oprah Winfrey. What could you learn if you spent an afternoon with Richard Branson or Bill Gates? Can you imagine all the interesting tidbits or helpful advice they might give you? The personalities mentioned above have all lived very different lives but have found their own path to achieve their ambitions. Meeting these people in person is probably beyond reach for most of us, but thanks to the power of reading, we have access to these amazing innovators and groundbreakers. Many billionaires have written books detailing their lives and the lessons learned as they built their fortunes. Here are […]

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